New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘Fisco Litorch’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea  Impatiens  plant named ‘Fisco Litorch’, characterized by its relatively compact, outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded plant habit; rounded growth habit; freely branching and freely flowering habit; medium green-colored foliage; large blush pink-colored flowers; and flowers that are positioned above or beyond the foliage.

Botanical designation: Impatiens hawkeri.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Fisco Litorch’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Fisco Litorch’.

The new Impatiens is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Hillscheid, Germany and Galdar, Canary Islands, Spain. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new compact Impatiens cultivars that flower relatively early and have attractive flower coloration.

The new Impatiens originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor during the summer of 2000 in Hillscheid, Germany of a proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number K00-6189-2, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number K00-6162-8, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar Fisco Litorch was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Galdar, Canary Islands, Spain in April, 2001.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings in Galdar, Canary Islands, Spain since July, 2001, has shown that the unique features of this new Impatiens are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Fisco Litorch’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Fisco Litorch’ as a new and distinct Impatients cultivar:

-   -   1. Relatively compact, outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded         plant habit; rounded growth habit.     -   2. Freely branching and freely flowering habit.     -   3. Medium green-colored foliage.     -   4. Large blush pink-colored flowers.     -   5. Flowers that are positioned above or beyond the foliage.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in Hillscheid, Germany, plants of the new Impatiens differed from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens were smaller with shorter         internodes than plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens had darker green-colored leaves         than plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Impatiens and the female parent selection         differed in flower color as plants of the female parent         selection had pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in Hillscheid, Germany, plants of the new Impatiens differed from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens were smaller than plants of the         male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens had lighter green-colored leaves         than plants of the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Impatiens and the male parent selection         differed in flower color as flowers of plants of the male parent         selection were red and light red bi-colored.

Plants of the new Impatiens can also be compared to plants of the cultivar Fisnics Lilav, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,746. In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in Hillscheid, Germany, plants of the new Impatiens differed from plants of the cultivar Fisnics Lilav in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens were smaller than plants of the         cultivar Fisnics Lilav.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens had shorter leaves than plants of         the cultivar Fisnics Lilav.     -   3. Plants of the new Impatiens had smaller flowers than plants         of the cultivar Fisnics Lilav.     -   4. Plants of the new Impatiens had lighter pink-colored flowers         than plants of the cultivar Fisnics Lilav.

Plants of the new Impatiens can also be compared to plants of the cultivar Fisnics Pastel, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,833. In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in Hillscheid, Germany, plants of the new Impatiens differed from plants of the cultivar Fisnics Pastel in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens were smaller than plants of the         cultivar Fisnics Pastel.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens had shorter and lighter         green-colored leaves than plants of the cultivar Fisnics Pastel.     -   3. Plants of the new Impatiens and the cultivar Fisnics Pastel         differed in flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Impatiens. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Fisco Litorch’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The cultivar Fisco Litorch has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The aforementioned photograph, following observations and measurements describe plants growth in Hillscheid, Germany, under commercial production practice in a glass-covered greenhouse. Rooted young plants were planted in 12-cm containers and the aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements were taken about three months later. During the production of the plants, day temperatures were about 16° C. to 20° C. and night temperatures were about 16° C. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens hawkeri cultivar Fisco Litorch. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri             identified as code number K00-6189-2, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri             identified as code number K00-6162-8, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal tip cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Summer: About 10 days at 24° C.             Winter: About 12 to 15 days at 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Summer: About 15 days at             24° C. Winter: About 18 to 20 days at 21° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; 158D in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   General appearance.—Relatively compact, outwardly spreading             and uniformly mounded plant growth habit; low and rounded             growth habit; freely branching habit; bushy appearance;             freely flowering. Low to moderate vigor.         -   Crop time.—From a rooted cutting, about nine weeks are             required to produce finished flowering plants in 12-cm             containers.         -   Plant height.—About 10.8 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 19.5 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Quantity per plant: About seven. Length:             About 7.5 cm to 8.5 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm to 7 mm.             Internode length: About 2 cm to 3 cm. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: 144A.         -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Primarily in whorls.             Length: About 9.8 cm. Width: About 4.7 cm. Shape: Elliptic.             Apex: Acuminate. Base: Acute. Margin: Serrulate with             ciliation. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             slightly rugose; glabrous. Color: Developing foliage, upper             surface: 143A. Developing foliage, lower surface: 143C.             Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: 137A. Fully expanded             foliage, lower surface: 138B. Venation, upper surface: 145B.             Venation, lower surface: 143D. Petiole: Length: About             1.5 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces:             145C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single, large and rounded             flowers. Freely and continuously flowering; usually about             seven to ten flowers and flower buds per lateral branch.             Flowers positioned above or beyond the foliage; flowers             typically face parallel to the leaf canopy. Petals not             persistent; gynoecium persistent. Flowers not fragrant.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about one week on the plant.         -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions.             Early flowering habit; plants begin flowering about eight to             nine weeks after planting.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.1 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm.             Shape: Ovoid. Color: 73D.         -   Flower length.—About 6.7 cm.         -   Flower width.—About 6.6 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 1 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: Five per flower, imbricate. Length: Banner             petals: About 2.7 cm. Lateral and base petals: About 3 cm to             3.2 cm. Width: Banner petal: About 4.5 cm. Lateral petals:             About 3 cm. Base petals: About 3.5 cm. Shape: Cordate. Apex:             Moderately lobed; emarginate. Base: Attenuate. Margin:             Entire; undulate. Aspect: Mostly flat. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth; satiny. Color: When opening, upper             surface: 69B. When opening, lower surface: 75C. Fully             opened, upper surface: Banner petal, 69D; lateral and base             petals, 73C to 68B, color becoming closer to 69D with             development; central ring, 68B. Fully opened, lower surface:             73C to 73D.         -   Spur.—Quantity: One per flower. Length: About 6.7 cm.             Diameter: At apex: About 0.5 mm. At flower: About 3 mm.             Aspect: Curved. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 144D.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4.4 cm to 4.8 cm. Diameter: About             2 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Strength: Strong, flexible.             Color: 144D.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Five fused             at anthers, hooded; filaments free. Anther length: About             6 mm. Anther shape: Obovate. Anther color: 155D; towards the             margin, 8C. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: 8D.             Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: One per flower. Pistil length:             About 5 mm to 6 mm. Stigma color: 11D. Style color: 11D.             Ovary: Five-celled. Ovary color: 143B.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development has not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Impatiens have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Impatiens. -   Lower temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Impatiens have been     observed to tolerate night temperatures of 5° C. with 10° C. day     temperatures. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘Fisco Litorch’, as illustrated and described. 